mK AMERlCAN^ BOTANIST. 



on most of the investigations regarding cleavage planes?' 

 tells of this phase of the work in Tht Ohio Naturalist. ^'In. 

 the simplest cases a cleavage plant is- formed at the base 

 of the fruit which falls off while the peduncle dries^ and de- 

 cays away. This is the case in Rhus glabra.- In others, 

 the separation layer' is formed at or near' the base of the 

 peduncle^, as for example in the ground cherry (Physalis- 

 pruinosa). In this herb a very perfect cleavage plane is 

 formed in the peduncle.. In the apple and pear the separa- 

 tion of the fruit from the tree is accomplished in the same 

 way by the development of a rather imperfect cleavage 

 plane or separation layer. In some plants sis inPrunus 

 Americana or in Benzoin benzoin the fruit first falls off 

 and afterward a cleavage plane is formed at the base of 

 the peduncle. In the plum the peduncle sometimes dries: 

 up and is not immediately shed,, though the separation 

 layer is formed. When the fruit is produced on panicles 

 or cymes there are also several methods of procedure. In 

 the dogwoods as in Cornus asperifolia. the berries drop off 

 singly and later the fruiting cyme is closely excised by a 

 smooth cleavage plane; while in the smooth sumac, as 

 stated before, the berries drop off in the same way but the 

 much branched panicle remains to deca^^ gradually. In 

 the chestnut {Castanea dentata) the stems which bear 

 the burs become quite woody but a cleavage plane is 

 formed and the entire fruiting branch is thus pruned off.'^ 



r 



Wanted. — Short notes of interest to the general bot- 

 anist are always in demand for this department. Our 

 readers are invited to make this the place of publication 

 for their botanical items. 



The Para Rubber Tree's Guardian. — The seed of 

 the para rubber tree (Hevia) is an edible and oily nut that 

 is sought by many of the forest inhabitants. According 



